BOSTON 1964

The East, with Oscar Robertson and Bill Russell like truly stars won by four. Oscar got the MVP with 26 points 14 rebounds and 8 assists, and Russell made 21 points and 13 rebounds. In the other
team, Wilt Chamberlain and Bob Pettit shone, both made 19 points, Wilt 20 rebounds and Bob 17. The East led in the halftime 59-49, and could resist the attacks of the West till the
final.

This edition was
threatened by a players strike, but finally the game was played.
Three hours before the game was due to start, Tom Heinsohn, Bob Pettit, Bill
Russell and Len Wilkens visited NBA president WalterKennedy and demanded
that he call a meeting of the owners immediately to set up a pension plan for
NBA players like NFL, NHL and MLB had done. Kennedy could not get all the
owners together in time, but promised that the pension plan would be
discussed at their next meeting. The players then retired to the dressing
room and, after two votings (reportedly 11 to 9 first and then 13 to 7) agreed
to go through with the game. However, they did not step onto the floor until
9.05 pm, only 12 minutes before the nationally televised live game (one of
the first times) was scheduled
to start.
Two months later, the owners kept their word and offered the pension plan.